Acetylene Cylinder Cap Stuck

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B

bombproof

Joined
Sep 23, 2010
Threads
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Location
Southern Maine
Hey everyone...

So, I just picked up a #3 Acetylene cylinder yesterday, and I can't get the cap off. I don't know a whole lot about the fragility of these tanks, or what's an acceptable amount of force to use when removing these caps. As a matter of fact, I'm completely new to oxy-acetylene welding and welding in general.

It's a 50 minute drive back to my supplier. Can I safely remove this thing myself? How?

EDIT: This may have been posted in the wrong section. I apologize; if I knew how to move it, I would.
 
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I should specify, since I may be using the wrong terminology, what exactly is stuck. It's the large threaded "cup-shaped" steel shell that protects the valve on the top of the cylinder.
 
bombproof said:
I should specify, since I may be using the wrong terminology, what exactly is stuck. It's the large threaded "cup-shaped" steel shell that protects the valve on the top of the cylinder.
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use a large pair of chanel locks and give it a smack(the cap) while you have pressure on the pliers.... do it all the time.
 
I'll give it a whirl. Thanks for the quick response!
 
You can whack the cap with a DFH no problem spray it with WD40 or similar and tap it in the corrct direction with a hammer it will start spinning off NP the threaded end of the bottle is the thickest part of the bottle
 
Excellent!
Thanks, guys. I ratchet strapped it to my 60's tire, leaned into it with a 24" pipe wrench, and just tapped the cap with a claw hammer a few times. Piece of cake.

:cheers:
 
I just can't ignore the irony in a user named 'bombproof' talking about taking a hammer to an acetylene cylinder! hehe
 
Well, it didn't blow up, so you won't be seeing me on an OSHA poster.........yet. ;)
 
Acetylene Safety Lesson !
Result of leaking Acetylene bottle - notice the bottles in the bottom pic --- :crybaby:

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Spike Strip said:
Acetylene Safety Lesson !
Result of leaking Acetylene bottle - notice the bottles in the bottom pic --- :crybaby:
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Let's not get over-dramatic, here. I'm sure we've ALL farted with worse consequences. :lol:

I guess this rules out transporting the cylinders in my backpack, on the motorcycle, on those gorgeous acetylene resupply days to come this summer :doh:
 
I carry 'em to work in my lunch box.
 
Spike That would have been cool to watch from a distance!

Bombproof If you brought the bottle home laying on its side, let it stand upright unused for at least 24 hours. Lets the acetone settle back down in the media thats in the bottle. Yes there is acetone inside an acetylene bottle. If you are really new to gas welding do a lot of reading about it and be safe!

Tony
 
Thanks, Tony. While I don't know a whole lot about it, I have read that it is unstable if tipped sideways and if allowed to flow too fast (not sure what psi), and also if it is depleted beyond its minimum safe residual pressure. I will certainly do more reading before I so much as screw a regulator on.
 
...I was waiting for someone to suggest heating the transport cap,

but since they didn't, I won't!

Acetylene dissolved in acetone. Wonder who figured THAT out?

As to the safe residual pressure, it should be more than whatever you use for oxygen.

And don't run more than 15 psi line pressure! Or use oil on the fittings.

All that said, I use the acetylene rig so often I don't even think about it- until I run out of something.

t
 
TobyB said:
...I was waiting for someone to suggest heating the transport cap,

but since they didn't, I won't!

Acetylene dissolved in acetone. Wonder who figured THAT out?

As to the safe residual pressure, it should be more than whatever you use for oxygen.

And don't run more than 15 psi line pressure! Or use oil on the fittings.

All that said, I use the acetylene rig so often I don't even think about it- until I run out of something.

t
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips. I've been taught that 200psi is the minimum safe residual for an oxygen tank. Does this sound about right? This was in the context of emergency medicine, and it seems to have more to do with the risk of running out of oxygen while administering oxygen therapy to a patient than some sort of inherent oxygen volatility at lower pressures.

Perhaps someone can clarify.

:cheers:
 
SM Racing said:
You may have gotten a cap with mismatched threads. I found that on my last Argon bottle. Some idiot screwed a fine thread cap on a course thread bottle.
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While I don't doubt this happens from time to time, my particular issue was with some very light corrosion on the threads.
 
I cant believe you were able to even get any acetylene. There has been a shortage and its not even been available here.

There was a large accident at the ONLY calcium carbide processing facility in the US I was told at the local airgas dealer.
 
Chop Shop said:
I cant believe you were able to even get any acetylene. There has been a shortage and its not even been available here.

There was a large accident at the ONLY calcium carbide processing facility in the US I was told at the local airgas dealer.
Click to expand...

Yes, I'm aware of the plant explosion in Kentucky, and of the industry-wide shortage; it nearly coincided with my initial "discovery" of oxy-acetylene setups, and it was a huge source of disappointment to a prospective first-time-experimenter (that's me ;)).

Regarding my find, I guess I just got lucky... :D

By the way, I don't know jack about welding, but I do know that I was not impressed with my only experience inside an air-gas store. The GM was not very helpful when I asked him about the usefulness of propylene as a replacement for acetylene. I went in the store for acetylene (before I knew about the shortage), and he was rather confident that he could have me leave ~$400 poorer, with equipment and gas that I'd never heard of. He simply told me that the propylene flame wasn't quite as hot as acetylene's, and how much I could pay him for some. My research since that disappointing day has led me to understand that alternative fuel welding is really not even feasible. That is, it's not even something you can work around. Period. Is this true?
That's irrelevant, as I've got the acetylene, and no reason to go back to Airgas anytime soon. I'd just like to know if that employee was clueless or not. I'd hate to be burning him for no good reason. Maybe, as GM, he's persuaded to wrestle potential acetylene buyers into purchasing the alternatives without explaining their inherent pitfalls.

:cheers:
 
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